Wild Weather, A Preview, Overseas Visitors, a Close Shave and Two Book Reviews

Bella's latest perch...on the arm of my recliner, usually when I'm sitting in it.  It's the first step towards insinuating herself on my lap when I'm either on the laptop or trying to read.  She thinks if she moves in small increments, I won't notice, but it's a bit hard not to when she sits on the keyboard or the book!

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As you may or may not have heard, Queensland was the filling in a tropical cyclone sandwich a few days ago.  TC Lam hit the Top End briefly before moving into the Northern Territory as a Cat 4 system.  TC Marcia made landfall a day or so later as a Cat 5 system, causing immense destruction in the small township of Yeppoon plus the city of Rockhampton, 40 km inland, before weakening and moving down the coast and into New South Wales.  Even after Marcia decayed and moved out to sea, the effects were still felt a couple of days later with flooding as the rivers rose from the rain falling in the catchment area.

Now the clean up begins, insurance claims assessed and power gradually restored to thousands of homes.  Queenslanders are a hardy lot though.  While devastated at the loss of their homes and businesses, the attitude is "life goes on" and they do get on with it.

Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland are cyclone prone states and the cyclone season lasts throughout the southern summer until April.  Usually they are of lesser intensity but over the last few years, there have been some more dangerous ones hitting the coasts.  As a cyclone grows in intensity its movements become more unpredictable thus making it very hard to know where it'll make landfall.  Marcia was small, about 70 km in width but extremely fast growing, going from a deep low in the Coral Sea to a Cat 5 in 24 hours. TC Yasi in 2011 was also a Cat 5 but a lot larger at approximately 1,000 km in width...a frightening sight on the satellite pictures.

However, in amongst all the chaos and destruction, the wonderful news was that there were no deaths...amazing when one sees videos of incredibly high tides thanks to storm surge, huge trees being uprooted and sheets of iron from roofs effortlessly taking flight.  Thank God lives were spared.

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I've put a preview of Old Age and Villainy on Amazon.  If you are interested in having a look, click on this link https://t.co/Yo7mlQ70nP  and download it for free.  Enjoy!

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Just before Christmas last year, I received a message in my FB inbox from a blogging friend of 10 years or so who lives in Norway.  He and his wife love travelling and after many years of saying they would like to come to Australia they'd made the decision to do so.  

My mobile phone rang about a week ago and it was Tor!  He and his wife, Anna, had landed in Auckland, New Zealand and would arrive in Brisbane on 04 March.  I was delighted that they had made it Down Under and am now eagerly awaiting their arrival here on the Gold Coast. Tor also asked for advice on hotel apartments and transfers.  I've had a look and found 4 or 5 hotels that may suit and have sent them links for those as well as links to shuttle services between Brisbane and the coast.   Now all I have to do is wait.

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My eldest daughter, Toni, is raising funds for the Leukaemia Foundation's World's Greatest Shave in support of a close member of her family.  If you wish to sponsor or support her, click on this link:  https://secure.leukaemiafoundation.org.au  Her Close Shave event is taking place on 15 March at her home where she and her husband are also putting on a barbecue. If you wish to attend, either contact her or email me for the address.   She would be very grateful for your support.

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Now, the book reviews:

Eat The Wind by Robin Sisley (Croft House Press 2014)

This is a beautiful memoir of the author's involvement with the Kaimanawa horses, New Zealand's wild horses, named after their habitat in the Kaimanawa Ranges in the Central Plateau of New Zealand.

Back in the 1990s, New Zealand's Department of Conservation made the decision to cull 1200 Kaimanawas as they were becoming too prolific.  This raised such a public outcry that DOC decided to auction them instead.  The author and her friend, Heike Ehrlenbach, were unhappy at the proposed slaughter of hundreds of these animals which had lived in the ranges for over a century and wondered if they could rehome some.

Living on a farm, Mrs Sisley had the perfect facilities for taming and training the animals before selling them to approved buyers.

So began a journey of discovery, both for Mrs Sisley and the horses, with whom she bonded so well.  The horses were extremely sensitive and empathetic, she and Heike realised they only had to think of the direction they wanted the animals to turn...and they did!

This is a wonderful story of the author's achievements with these beautiful animals, the tears, laughter and difficulties experienced in the years she trained them.

Rating: *****

Cissy by Erin McKechnie (Amazon 2014)

Cissy and Seth are newly wed and madly in love.  They enjoy their life in London where Cissy has her own restaurant in which Seth occasionally helps out by manning the bar if she's short-staffed.  He enjoys the socialising and other illegal activities, which eventually end up with Seth being deported rather than spending time in gaol.

Cissy sells her business at a loss before flying back to New Zealand to join Seth and make a new life.  However, it's not long before Seth is up to his old tricks, becoming more and more unpredictable as time goes on.  

After being badly beaten by Seth during one of his rages, Cissy throws him out of the marital home and takes out a protection order.  Thus begins a cycle of reconciliation and abuse until Cissy finally makes a decision that will change their lives.

The author has written a chilling yet compelling story of domestic abuse which is becoming more prevalent in society.  Unfortunately a lot of women, plus children, lose their lives in this horrific epidemic of violence.

Rating: ****

NB:  If you, or anyone you know, needs help call Lifeline or the appropriate community support group in your area.

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I hope 2015 is a busy and enjoyable year for you all.  Thank you for reading this post and as always, I welcome your comments.

A New Year, Tennis, Reminiscing and Other Stuff

Bella has no appreciation for tennis.  She slept through the Djokovic/Raonic match!

  We had a king tide last week.  The tide still had an hour or so to go before full.  As you can see, it was close to the top of the seawall opposite.  It didn't go over though.  

I kept an eye on it...it was close!

January is almost over, we're all a year older and the kids are now back at school. After a topsy-turvey 2014 and a year's hiatus from my usual interests, apart from writing, life is back to normal, to my intense relief.  I don't have to move anywhere and spend precious time looking for somewhere to live before packing, organising a removalist and carpet cleaner and cleaning, which I did twice in six months last year.  All worked out and my current abode is exactly what I want...on the first floor, by water, with a balcony for the cats, lovely neighbours and a great complex manager with a good sense of humour.  I feel very grateful and appreciative as my lease is for two years and unless I do something idiotic like not pay my rent, damage the place or have wild parties, I'm here for the duration.  Wonderful!

Earlier this week, I renewed my membership with U3A which I'd let lapse, booked into a Tai Chi class and put my name down for next term's Italian course and also for yoga. Unfortunately the yoga class I used attend is no longer going due to our teacher injuring her shoulder so she's had to give up teaching. Mind you, she is in her eighties!  I've also volunteered for shifts in the office again. 

Last year wasn't a complete write-off though, I did get my book published and managed second place in our short story writing competition.

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Being a tennis tragic, my TV has been permanently tuned to the various tennis events leading up to the Australian Open.  I'm not sure what's going to happen when it's all over in a couple of nights...but I feel like that every January!  The opening day of the AO Grand Slam has been lauded as one of the best ever...our young Australian players did very well culminating in Nick Kyrgios beaten by Andy Murray in the quarter-finals.  A fine effort from a 19-year-old who is only going to become better as he matures. 

Now there are two nights of top notch tennis left.  It's going to be great!

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I had the radio on earlier, a station that plays music from the 80s and 90s through to current stuff.  One group I loved in the 80s was the Eurythmics...Annie Lennox had (and still has, I imagine) a wonderful voice. This morning I heard their song "Would I Lie Too You?" and it took me right back to the mid 80s when I worked as head bartender and relief manager of a sports club in Auckland.  

This particular night, I can't remember the actual day of the week it was, a few of us went off to a very popular pub in a popular marine suburb after we'd closed up.  It was pretty crowded and somehow, some way we fell in with the NZ cricket team who were celebrating a successful test series.  I found myself eventually teamed (pardon the pun) with a tall well-known batsman and we danced the night away.  The Eurythmics' song must have been one of their latest as it was played several times that night...so it has evocative memories for me. Enough said...

Here it is if you want to listen:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuV7gGRmraw

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It will be a busy year as far as writing goes.  I've started researching my second book.  It's completely different from Old Age and Villainy in that it's fiction but based on family history  during the Maori Wars in New Zealand.  I have a lot of information given to me by my mother after one of her brothers had passed it on to her and based the book on one of the incidents in which an ancestor of ours was involved.  However, the main protagonist and other characters are creatures of my imagination.  I don't want to start a second lot of wars!

I've also had the idea of collaborating on a book of short stories with a couple of my fellow writers.  I've sounded out one who is keen, I have yet to contact the other.  There are also the 2015 anthology short stories for my writing group for which I have written one so far. The theme is killer stories..which covers a lot!  I also have some overseas writing comps earmarked for entry.  I don't think I'll be bored.

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If you're one of my Facebook friends, you would have discovered I had milestone birthday a couple of weeks ago.  I've now reached three score years and ten, and feel a real sense of achievement.  I actually don't mind getting older...I'm very fortunate in that I enjoy good health and am still physically active.  Two flights of stairs help!  I also have all my marbles, although some may argue with that...but don't listen to them!

One of the things I like about being this age is I no longer have the uncertainty, self doubt and lack of confidence that goes with being a lot younger, especially during the teen years. I'm really happy they're over.  Don't get me wrong, they were fun and carefree times with no responsibilities...but oh, the peer pressure!  Fortunately, as I matured that wasn't an issue and the peer pressure back in the 60s is nothing like it is now.

After that came marriage and parenthood.  Looking back, I'm pleasantly surprised that my two daughters are relatively well adjusted adults, although I don't claim credit for that!  I have seven lovely grandchildren, none of whom have caused their parents major concerns, apart from the usual teenage scrapes that most of us went through anyway.

My mother is a vigorous 95 now and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon, so with those genes, I plan on having quite a number of years before me in which to create mayhem.  Bring it on!

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That's my first post for 2015.  I hope your 2015 brings you love, laughter and happiness!

Buzzing Brain and Sore Feet

As mentioned in my last post...three weeks ago *cough*...our writers' festival, Carnival of Words, was finally upon us.  The doors opened to the public at 1 pm but several of us were there at 11 am to set up.  I'd brought my LED light 1.8m Christmas tree and two boxes of tinsel, baubles and sundry other decorations to help set the Christmassy atmosphere.  Balloons were blown up, a barbecue was set up for the sausage sizzle, coffee, tea and an urn of hot water organised and eskies filled with ice for bottled water and cans of Coke readied plus authors' tables and audience seating organised...all this completed by 12.30 pm.

The authors arrived in ones and twos, chose a table, set out their decorations and books for attendees to peruse and hopefully purchase.  All was ready, the sound system was checked and Nerida Marshall, facilitator, organiser and all round Superwoman (despite rolling her ankle and injuring her ribs in a mishap yesterday) welcomed everyone and introduced the MC, talented actress and funny woman, June Horden.

The first speaker was S.T.A.R.S (Screen,Theatre, Artists and wRiters Studios) Patron, internationally renowned author, Peter Watt.  Also a volunteer fire officer, Peter writes for six months of the year, and performs his firefighting duties the other six months during bush fire season, which is currently upon us.

As well as talking about his books, he also spoke about his firefighting duties and how he mentioned to his coordinator that he wouldn't be available on Sat 21 November because of his appearance at our event.  He had no sooner finished his talk and sat down, when he was up again making his apologies because he'd been called out to a fire...he'd brought his firefighting and safety gear with him, grabbed those and raced out the door to meet up with his crew.  Without our brave and dedicated volunteer "firies" life would be pretty grim for those in the path of an inferno.

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After Peter's dramatic exit, we had excitement of another kind...talks and readings from authors who embraced a wide range of writing genres.  Raffles were drawn throughout the afternoon and we had a huge range of prizes for winners including books very kindly donated by all authors present.  

The "barbie" was fired up and soon the delicious aroma of barbecued sausages and fried onions permeated the venue with the rumbling of stomachs threatening to drown out the speakers!  I was assisting with refreshments and drinks along with Barbara Harding Gaskell and we experienced a stampede once the announcement that the sausage sizzle was ready.  Appetites satisfied, thirsts quenched and legs stretched, the second part of the day began with an invitation to visit the authors for questions, book purchases and signings before the next few authors spoke.  I was lucky enough to be invited to speak about my book "Old Age and Villainy" and I also read out an excerpt which, I feel (hope), was relatively well received.  I didn't get booed off the stage, anyway...a good sign!

Below are some photos which I managed to take before the event began.

Barbara (standing) whom I helped with the refreshments and Sue, who looked after the raffles and anthology sales.

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Dee Dee McCarthy, horror novelist and author of "New Soil".

Roman Harambura, self-empowerment motivator, philosopher and author amongst many other hats he wears, author of "Entrapment" and "The Book of Knowledge, I'Am Alien", taking the opportunity to avail himself of some refreshing rock melon (cantaloupe).

Michael Mason, author, who graciously took time to smile for the camera.

S.T.A.R.S. Founder and organiser of Carnival of Words, Nerida Marshall, with Patron and international author, Peter Watt (before he disappeared to undertake emergency firefighting duties).

Dr Elisabeth Puruto, author of "Over The Mountains, Not Over The Hill" , and adventurer extraordinaire, signs a copy of her book for a lucky purchaser.

These are only a handful of the talented authors and speakers we had over the course of the day.  

The event finished around 5 pm, we tidied up, put things back to how they were and retired outside to the outdoor picnic area for wine and nibbles on a balmy summer evening.

After dropping one of our members off on the way home, I decided to unpack the car the next morning before going out for breakfast with one of my writer friends, made my way upstairs and collapsed in a heap in the recliner.

I had two very disgruntled cats who, after demanding where the hell I'd been since 10.30 that morning (it was 7.30 pm before I was home again), studiously ignored me until I went to bed.

...and so begins another day.

Freebies!

 Poinciana...beautiful and spectacular trees.  They'll be flowering soon!

Mitzi, being daft

Sadly these beautiful little beetles aren't seen much any more.  We call them Christmas beetles because that's when they're around.







I posted these photos on my old blog some years back but thought they were worth a revisit, especially the poinciana flower and the iridescent Christmas beetle.  We're losing so many species of animal life now, I'm glad I've got this photo to remind me of some of the beautiful things we've lost.

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Right...I mentioned freebies in the title.  First of all, click on the link: 

https://www.createspace.com/Preview/1158185 

for a free excerpt from "Old Age and Villainy".  I would appreciate it if you could answer three short questions I've included and let me know what you thought. Be honest, I don't mind if it's not to your liking.

If you decide you want to read more, the whole book is free on Kindle Matchbook for the next 48 hours.  Help yourself and I hope you enjoy it.

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Our 2014 Carnival of Words is being held on 22 November and Nerida, who runs our writing group along with other affiliated groups, has been busy organising it for the last few months. The theme this year is multicultural with authors from diverse communities throughout the Gold Coast showcasing their books and culture.  It's an exciting event and I'm really looking forward to it.  Click on the link below to see what it's all about.

http://www.starsgc.com/carnival-of-words/

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Book Review:

Hell's Corner - David Baldacci (Grand Central Pub USA 2010)

If, like me, you're a fan of spy thrillers, you'll thoroughly enjoy this book.  Baldacci is a cross between Le Carre and Clancy but in his own inimitable style leads the reader on a hunt of twist, turns and betrayal that leaves one breathless.

Oliver Stone is a retired assassin.  Retired as in being hung out to dry by his own government. But this same government calls on Stone when a bomb goes off close to the White House without any discernible reason the security agencies can find.

The next 613 pages lead you on a story involving an agent from MI6, the Russians, the Mexican drug cartels and even briefly bring in the Chinese.  There are double agents, traitors and false trails, with a few assassinations added to the mix, finishing with a most surprising twist.

I've read a lot of Baldacci's books, notably the Sean King and Michelle Maxwell series, but Hell's Corner surpasses anything I've read previously.  A great book, hard to put down and one of those which leaves one disappointed it has to end.  To me, that's the mark of a damn good writer!

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Enjoy your week and I hope your Christmas plans are progressing well.  

Spring Has Sprung...With a Vengeance!

This shot is taken from my balcony and shows a small poinsettia, in the centre, so covered in flowers its leaves can't be seen.  Unfortunately the photo doesn't do justice to the colour which is a beautiful vibrant red.

Below is the striking miniature bougainvillea just showing in the bottom left-hand corner of the previous photo.  Believe it or not, it's been flowering like this since I moved here almost four months ago.  I love looking at it as the flowers are such an intense but cheerful colour, with various shades of pink, depending on the age of the blossoms.

Finally, my two fur-faces.  Mitzi (top) prefers the shaded aspects of the balcony now the weather's warmer while Bella (below) is a sun lover like me.  Although now the sun is becoming hotter, she's goes for the dappled sunlight under the outdoor setting.  They're fascinated by the water and will sit for ages, either outside or on a convenient window sill, watching the ripples and fish jumping.

It's been three weeks or so since my last post but I have been busy.  I'm currently typing up some work for one of our writers group members who is not particularly au fait with computers. Karen writes the most beautiful poetry and I'm putting all her work on a flash drive so none is lost.  As she has masses of poems, some of which are quite long, it's taking me a while but the upshot of it all is that I get to read this wonderful poetry before anyone else does!

I've also been working on a short story for the 2015 Commonwealth Writers competition, the deadline of which is 15 November...next month.  It's taken me longer than usual because I've had to research quite a lot of detail.

The final task which has kept me with my head down is the second edition of "Old Age and Villainy" which I have finally finished.  I've added extra content and hopefully, it will go on sale in the next couple of days.  I'll also have an announcement to make at that time...stay tuned!

Next month is the Carnival of Words, an annual event to showcase Gold Coast authors and their work.  This year's theme is multicultural and there will be some fabulous entertainment including a flash mob, which we're currently working on, along with a sausage sizzle, a children's lantern parade at dusk and entertainment from some of the local multicultural groups.  It's also another reason why I've been working so hard on OA&V...I'm one of the *cough* featured authors, which is very exciting for me.

It's always a high energy day.  We're looking forward to it, especially after it's over, the public has departed and we've tidied everything up...then we'll sit down to well deserved wine and nibbles!  One thing I've noticed about my writer friends...wine is always featured any time two or more get together...funny, that.

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Book Review

Beauty by Louise Mensch (2014 Headline)

If you've never heard of Louise Mensch, it's because she was formerly Louise Bagshawe, now writing as Mensch.

"Beauty" is the story of Dina Kane, an unwanted and unloved child who was denied the advantages her elder brother had.  Instead of bewailing her fate and wallowing in self pity, at a prodigiously young age Dina's steely determination sees her slow rise to the top of the billion dollar beauty industry. She has setbacks but claws her way out of those, however, there is someone determined to stop her at all costs...even to the point of murder.  

Set in New York, this pacy, racy and mesmerising saga combines intrigue, money and sex into one extremely readable book, which I finished at 4 am this morning because I couldn't bear to put it down.

I loved Ms Mensch's protagonist...Dina is a gutsy, but compassionate character and I badly wanted her to succeed and also to find love and happiness.  Yes, it has a happy ending and I liked that very much.

I'm an unashamed chick lit fan and this is chick lit at its best!  Enjoy.

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I hope this finds you all well and not stressing too much about Christmas, which is zooming closer each day.

Another Post!

I want to come back as a cat who has an owner like me...

one who spoils me rotten, lets me sleep on the bed whenever I want and also allows me to rule the roost!.

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I've finally hung a couple of prints that I've had for quite some time.  I'd asked the complex manager if I could hang them and he consented but suggested using hooks that stick to the walls and can be removed without damaging the paint work.  Unfortunately, it's taken me all this time to remember to buy these!  They are now hung rather than taking up room on the dressing table inn my bedroom.

There's a bit of story as to how I came by these prints. When I was working in the eye clinic, some years ago the practice manager had one of his redecorating urges and decided to replace all the pictures around the waiting rooms and in the specialists' offices.  I came across these ones and was immediately taken with them.

I went to see Peter, the practice manager, and asked him what he was going to do with them.

"Throw them out!  Why, do you want them?"

"Ooh, yes please!"

"Help yourself.  It saves me having to get rid of them."

I was delighted and hurriedly took the two prints back to my office.  I showed my colleague who then asked me if there were more to be thrown out.  Upon hearing my "yes", she rushed out, coming back a little later with three that had appealed to her.  We were so pleased with ourselves.

These are numbered prints painted by Kenneth Jack.  The one on the left is in acrylic of a derelict farmhouse in Tatong, Victoria and the other is mixed media of a street scene in Rochester, also in Victoria.

I love Australian paintings and my favourite artist is Darcy Doyle whose paintings are so evocative of life in the country during the 50s and 60s or thereabouts...and he paints the flowering jacarandas so well.

I was at a young friend's place for a barbecue some years ago and noticed she had a small framed print of his.  I commented how much I like Doyle's paintings and my friend agreed with me then casually announced she had the original in the bank!   I nearly fell over as his paintings are extremely popular and not cheap to buy.  Her parents had bought the original for her as an investment when she was born.  Since Darcy Doyle's death not so long ago, my young friend now has an extremely healthy legacy sitting in the bank!

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Book Review:

The Happiest Refugee by Anh Do, Allen & Unwin 2010

I bought this book when it first came out and a couple of days ago felt compelled to re-read it.

For those outside of Australia, Anh Do is one of our most loved comedians and tv presenter. His parents fled Vietnam, arriving here when he was two years old and this story tells of their harrowing journey.  They were attacked twice by pirates, almost lost their lives in a storm and survived starvation and thirst after their meagre provisions were washed overboard.

Anh tells of growing up in the suburbs of Sydney and of his parents' wonderment and gratitude of life in Australia compared with Vietnam.  Told in Anh's inimitable way, this book will make you laugh out loud, cry and shake your head in amazement at the humility and fortitude portrayed throughout.  It's one of the most inspirational stories I've read, underlining once again the strength of the human spirit against almost impossible odds.

What I love about this memoir is that Anh Do writes the way he talks.  I watch anything on tv that he's either in or presenting and can hear him speaking as I read.  To me, that is the mark of a great storyteller and it's apparent Australia thinks so, too, as his book has won several awards.  It's available on Amazon for Kindle download at $A14.24 if you're interested in reading Anh's story.

I have another friend who was also a refugee from Vietnam...one of the "boat people" as they were called then.  I recall commenting to Son (pronounced "Shahn") that it must have been terrible growing up in a war zone.

Her reply, "We didn't know any different" shocked me to the core and I realised then how lucky we were to grow up in a country not torn apart by conflict, able to be safe wherever we went and not have to worry about where our next meal was coming from.  I also felt ashamed of my complacency and of taking so much for granted when there are others, even today, suffering as we've never known.  It made me think...

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Wow! Two posts in a week...that has to be some sort of record for me nowadays, unlike several years ago before I got into Facebook!

I've just had a phone call from a close friend inviting me for coffee and cake.  What a lovely surprise for a beautiful Sunday!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.  Cheers!

Here Comes the Sun, Also Bushfires, Drought, Storms and Cyclones...and Poetry Writing

If you're thinking, from the above heading, that Australia's weather is insane...you'd be right! It's spring at the moment and that means bushfires, continuing drought inland and very little rain.  Summer brings humidity, storms and cyclones...and continuing drought inland if the monsoon rains only stay around the coastal areas.  It's a harsh climate, unpredictable in its severity but I, and most of my fellow countrymen, love Australia regardless.

The pictures below were taken about 9 am yesterday morning.  I'd gone for my walk a little earlier as storms were predicted for late morning.

 Above:  No clouds let alone a sign of any storm.

Yep, I actually wet my feet and the water was surprisingly pleasant...in the shallows!

I also wriggled my toes in the warm sand and it felt so good!

One of the large old casuarina or she-oaks lining the shore...welcome shade in the heat of summer.

As for the storms...I heard thunder in the evening, there were a few spits of rain and that was it for where I live.  They were small scattered cells and pretty localised to a few select suburbs on the coast.

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Our next writer's meeting is on 27 September and we were asked to submit a poem. Nerida, our wonderful facilitator and leader, likes to give us various genres of writing to keep us on our toes!

One example of this was last year's anthology entitled "Hauntings: Dark Tales of Truth and Trickery".  I don't write horror and don't really like reading it either.  Fortunately, we were given leeway in that our attempts didn't have to be true horror but could be fantasy, whimsy, humour and even true tales from strange events we may have experienced.  

And so to poetry.  I'm not a poet...unless it's a naughty limerick.  "There was a young lass from Nantucket"...on second thoughts, maybe not.  I put it off and put it off...procaffinating as one wit on Facebook called it.  Procrastinating while drinking coffee...very apt in my case.

During the weekend I put my newly acquired poet's cap on and set to work.  I was mildly pleased with the result...a poem about writing a poem!   I'll put it in a post after the meeting and you can let me know what you think.

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To more mundane things.  I emptied my freezer.  I do that periodically...run my frozen meals and other supplies down before refilling so I don't have food stored for months on end. Of course, that means I have to defrost and clean it.  Fortunately, it's only a small chest freezer which fits nicely under the bench...big enough, plus the freezer in the fridge, for my needs.  

Anyway, it's all defrosted and clean ready for my new supplies of meat which I'll pick up this afternoon.  I feel quite virtuous now.

On that note, I shall end.  I hope your week is not too arduous and that you have something nice planned for your weekend.